Saturday, July 20, 2013

time2cre8 for the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

I've always admitted to being a bead hoarder.  And it appears I'm not alone, as more than 100 participants signed up for Lori's Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.

As always, I started out with the best of intentions:  Use up a bunch of those beautiful beads I've collected over the past seven or eight years.  And as always, it seems, something gets in the way of my best intentions and I don't get nearly as far along as I expected.

Nevertheless, I did finish a couple of pieces and used a few beads.  The first project is a diminutive little necklace that features a pretty clay focal that's been in my stash for at least five years.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't remember who made this piece (so if you know, or if it was you, please leave me a comment!).  But it's a pretty embellished square in a beautiful olive tone with a hint of turquoise.  To highlight it, I decided to make an ndebele rope using colors that are found in the focal.  The rope, although twisted, also has a square shape.  I think they go together wonderfully!





The second piece I made actually serves two purposes...  Use a few beads from my stash, and finish off a UFO (UnFinished Object) from my pile of unfinished pieces.  :-)  This bead crochet rope was just screaming to have a collection of lampwork beads added to each end.  The rope is about six feet long, made from a mix of Czech glass seed beads in shades of gray and silver, so the beads I chose for the ends are in the same colors.




I think I need another blog hop challenge to get me to use up more of my bead stash!  Maybe the next time I'll get to use more -- this challenge was interrupted by a trip out of town to visit relatives.  At least that's the excuse I'm going with.  :-)

** Please visit Lori's blog to see more of the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop!.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I could do a Bead Hoarders Blog Hop everyday for the next tens years and still have way too many beads. Love the simplicity of the first one and the focal is sublime. The crochet rope is making me drool it's so stunning.

Kim said...

Beautiful beadwork, I love that clay focal and the rope you did to match it, they are perfect together. I also love the crocheted rope (and am jealous because I cannot figure out bead crochet). Great job!

Anonymous said...

Love the rope work! Beautiful.

CraftyHope said...

Nicely done! Both of your ropes are so cool and work perfectly with those hoarded beads. :)

beautifullybrokenme said...

Beautiful pieces MaryLou - I love the colors in the first one, and a whole lot of work clearly went into the second,stunningly beautiful one! :)

LisaS said...

Wow! Love that beaded tole!

Unknown said...

i love what you came up with

Unknown said...

Both designs are lovely - but the way your strung the green pendant in your first necklace, and the soft wave to the beadweaving, is just gorgeous. nice work!

Anonymous said...

Great pieces. Love the second necklace and the versatility of the long length!

WindDancerStudios said...

Oh my I love the rope! The lamp worked ends are perfection!

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

Sorry to say I don't recognize the maker of that beautiful clay pendant (and I wouldn't mind finding out). I think your addition of just the bead rope is the perfect treatment for such a dramatic component, MaryLou. It was great that you used the occasion to finish off a UFO as well... we all have too many of those, don't we?

Unknown said...

I love this, especially the second piece !

adlinah said...

Oh love that 2nd necklace! So sparkly and pretty.

Unknown said...

WOW! I'm in love with both your creations!!!!!!

Unknown said...

So many shiny beads in the second necklace, must be great to wear with a little black dress♥ Great job! Have a nice summer...

Unknown said...

That bead rope is fantastic, but I am a sucker for simple and just love the ceramic pendant necklace. Beautiful!

anafiassa said...

Everything is so lovely! I am incredibly impressed by your bead crochet rope... Wow! You are very talented, and I enjoyed seeing what you created for this hop! :)

Deb DiSalvo said...

MaryLou- I made that clay pendant! That was a while ago. I haven't done any ceramic pendants since I switched over to fused glass. Thanks for posting!
Cheers,
Deb

Deb DiSalvo said...

MaryLou- I made that ceramic pendant! That sure was a while ago. I haven't been doing ceramics for years, since I switched to the fused glass. Thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Deb

Becky Pancake said...

Great job on both of your designs MaryLou. Kudos to you for finishing a ufo and a beautiful one at that.

Nelly May said...

I took one look at your first piece with it's beautiful greens and thought "that's gonna be my fave" but I read thru your post and saw the amazing sparkle on your now finished UFO and was in love. Gorgeous makes.

:-) MaryLou said...

Thank you for all the great comments!

The green focal in the first picture was made by a very talented artist, Deb DiSalvo. She used to do ceramic/clay work, but now her focus is on fused glass. All her stuff is gorgeous! (And yes, I have more of her pieces.) :-)

Janine said...

I love the second necklace very much. Love the chain!

Kari Asbury said...

Beautiful work! I really love the second piece so much sparkle!